Swansea - Quick Weekender out of Sydney

Swansea is located about 1 1/2 hours north of Sydney, which makes it a perfect weekend getaway from Sydney. A perfect location for a bit of fishing and a day at the beach.

We left Sydney in the morning and it was already 28 degree Celsius, and by the look of things its going to be a very hot day. Got to the hotel and the kids was excited to be in the air conditioned room.

By the afternoon the temperature was already hitting 40, we decided to hit the beach. Cave Beach is located south of Swansea and its a great place for the family to visit. There's plenty of caves to explore and also makes a stunning backdrop for wedding's photos. With the caves behind us we're able to setup in the shade.

Cave's Beach, Swansea

Great way to finish the day relaxing in the water and watching the sunset over the caves.

                            

From the ocean to the lake, it was a nice sunny day out fishing. We booked the boat for 4 hours, which cost $150. As with most boat hire as long as the boat is under 10hp, then a boat license is not required. Plenty of breams but most were undersize, but it was a fun experience for the kids.

On our way back to Sydney we drove to Catherine Hill Bay Beach. I saw some pics from of the beach from some tourist brochure, looks like a stunning beach, and it was definitely a picturesque. Took some nice photos and back to Sydney.

Jenolan Caves

Jenolan Caves is located about 2 1/2hours from Sydney and makes a great day trip out to the Blue Mountain region of NSW.

Getting There
You can drive and take your time and stop at Katoomba, and enjoy the small town filled with cafes and art galleries and not take a 30-60min bush walk to enjoy the scenery and take some photos of the most colorful birds and scenery. You might be lucky to spot the elusive black panther that is an urban legend in the mountains.

The last part of the journey is a windy 10km down the mountain with the wheels just a foot away from the edge. Make sure you keep your eyes on the road.

As you get to the bottom you come through a opening and when you drive through, on the other side looks like a movie set with a Victorian era hotel. That's the only accommodation around if you want to spend the weekend. Make sure you book before. The car park is pass the hotel, so you can walk around.
There are a few caves which have guided tours, some taking 45min minutes for easy access, while some are more challenging and requiring you to be fit to participate. You also get one free pass to do a unguided tour when you purchase a guided tour. Make sure you bring a jumper/jacket, even on a warm day, it's nice and cold inside the cave. So if you're in Sydney and want to explore some of the NSW best hidden natural wonder, you wont be disappointed.

Inside the Imperial Diamond Cave

Blue Lake (nice bush walking track)